vice president, constructionsubs.jacobebros.com/images/mag/vol2.pdfa publication from jacobe...

A publication fromJacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd., and

Ron Mabry Architects

Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.700 S. Southeast Loop 323

Tyler, TX 75702(903) 592-5091

(903) 592-5163 Faxwww.jacobebros.com

PresidentKen Jacobe

Vice PresidentBryan Jacobe

Vice President, Construction Keith Jacobe

Ron Mabry Architects110 N. College, Ste. 100A

Tyler, TX 75702(903) 596-8300

(903) 596-8302 Faxwww.mabryarchitects.com

PresidentRon Mabry

Editorial Mission: Church Design & Con-struction is an educational and informativeresource for clients and associates in thechurch design and church building indus-tries. This magazine features the capabili-ties, people, clients, and projects of JacobeBrothers Construction, Ltd., and Ron MabryArchitects as well as industry-related topicsof interest.

Welcome to the second issue of Church Design & Construction. Everyone who has

played a role in this issue is excited to share it with you and everyone on our "team"

looks forward to many more interesting and informative issues in the future!

As we approach the end of 2006, the Jacobe/Mabry team is reflecting on our projects, the

pride we take in our relationships with our clients, and the thrill we all experience from a

successfully completed job. As you read about our projects in this issue of our magazine,

keep in mind that not only are our design and construction projects a team effort, but this

magazine is a team effort as well. We would like to acknowledge the many subcontractors,

suppliers, vendors and business partners that you see throughout these pages who not

only have demonstrated excellence in their areas of expertise on the job site but have also

contributed to the success of this magazine with their financial support in underwriting

this publication. We would not be able to do it without them!

On another note, New Life Worship Center, a Jacobe/Mabry project located in Tyler, Texas

is featured in the national publication supplement of Metal Architecture Magazine’s fifti-

eth anniversary addition. The project was submitted by United Structures of America,

located in Houston, Texas and Shanghai, China. The 32,000 square foot project has also

received a Design Award of Excellence for a pre-engineered building by USA Structures.

We are dedicated to our clients, to our community and to excellence. With your support,

we will continue to deliver the quality projects that you have come to expect from Jacobe

Brothers Construction and Ron Mabry Architects.

Best regards,

Opening Remarks

Church Design & Construction 3

About the Cover: JacobeBrothers Construction, Ltd.,and Ron Mabry Architectstook part in the joint ven-ture to create a new homefor the First UnitedMethodist Church inJacksonville, Texas. Coverrendering courtesy of RonMabry Architects.

Finding that Solid FoundationBuilder, architect offer advice on planning church projects

New BeginningsCreative approaches enable congregation to complete facility within budget

Sharing the VisionHow to gain congregational support for your building program

468

In This Issue...

Church Design & Construction is published by QuestCorp MediaGroup, Inc., 885 E. Collins Blvd., Ste. 102, Richardson, TX 75081. Phone(972) 447-0910 or (888) 860-2442, fax (972) 447-0911,www.qcmedia.com. QuestCorp specializes in creating and publishingcorporate magazines for businesses. Inquiries: Victor Horne,[email protected]. Editorial comments: Heather Hill,[email protected]. Please call or fax for a new subscription, changeof address, or single copy. Single copies: $5.95. This publication maynot be reproduced in part or in whole without the express writtenpermission of QuestCorp Media Group, Inc.

Bryan JacobeVice President

Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.

Ron MabryPresident

Ron Mabry Architects

Ken JacobePresident


Keith JacobeVice President, Construction


Builder, architect offer advice on planning church projectsBy Peter Fretty

Because churches are much more than buildings,

designing and building them often requires more

planning and preparation than other construction

projects. Before any church starts planning its new home,

it is a good idea to seek the advice of experienced church

architects and builders. Bryan Jacobe, Vice President of

Jacobe Brothers Construction, and Ron Mabry, President

of Ron Mabry Architects, answer questions all churches

face when beginning a new building project.

What is the right way for a church to

start a building project?

Mabry: A successful church building campaign is much

more than a “brick-and-mortar”concept. Today’s church

building design is a complex equation of not only physi-

cal needs and physical building requirements but also an

interpretation of philosophy, positive social values, cul-

tural trends, politics, forecasting, and financial analysis.

One of the first things any congregation should do is form

a building committee to represent the church body in the

planning and construction of the project. Once the build-

ing committee is established, the first order of business

should be to select an architect and construction manager

team that has experience in providing leadership, knowl-

edge, and experience in religious facility design.

Jacobe: Church building design and construction is a

complex process, requiring expertise in many disciplines

and trades.

It is imperative that the client/architect/construction

manager team has a rock-solid foundation built on con-

fidence, trust, and experience. The success of the project

will depend on that foundation. For that reason, the

time, effort, and consideration of the building commit-

tee in selecting the architect and construction manager

will be one of its most important tasks.

What are key considerations in

selecting an architect/construction

management team?

Mabry: Church design is unique from most building

projects. It is committee driven and incorporates many

uses and sophisticated technology. It is important to

select a team that specializes in religious facility design

and has a track record of success. Communication

between the design-construction team, building com-

4 Church Design & Construction

Finding that Solid Foundation

Save the Date

The leading facilities and technology event for grow-

ing churches — the Worship Facilities Conference and

Expo (WFX) — is scheduled for November 8-10, 2006,

at the Dallas Convention Center in Texas.

During this event, Ron Mabry Architects and Jacobe

Brothers Construction (booth 1017) will present a

seminar titled,“The Seven Day Church,”which will be

conducted by Dr. Daniel Morgan of Southwestern

Baptist Theological Seminary. This presentation will

discuss how your congregation can expand its min-

istries and its impact on the community through

effective facilities design and construction planning.

To learn more, visit www.wfxweb.com. To receive

complimentary tickets to the expo, call Krista Harris

with Ron Mabry Architects at (903) 596-8300.

New Director of Business Development

Ron Mabry Architects and Jacobe Brothers

Construction are pleased to welcome Derek Watson

to their staff as the Director of Business Development.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Watson works

with clients through the project development phase,

assisting in ministry and space planning and pro-

gramming, financial capability analysis, and the coor-

dination of project financing. Watson is active in local

church ministry and mission work in Kenya. You can

contact Derek Watson at (903) 574-2456.

Jacobe/Mabry Team Announcements

mittee, and church body is paramount. The intangibles

of trust, confidence, and the “feel-good” factor are also

important considerations.

Jacobe: The building committee should inquire and

confirm the track record of the design-construction

team in terms of soft design quality, schedule, budget,

and post construction follow-up. Ask for a list of refer-

ences and the opportunity to visit some of its projects.

What advice do you have regarding

budgeting?

Mabry: Be sure to consult your architect-construction

manager to assist you in your due diligence when

preparing your budget. You do not want to put the con-

gregation in a position where it is planning a “dream

building”it cannot afford. If you have a solid understand-

ing of what you can afford, including how much money

the congregation needs to raise and what it can borrow,

it makes the entire process of moving forward with the

design and construction much easier. When you have a

solid budget, it is easy to have everything in perspective.

It is also important to understand that equipment and

furnishings, landscape, operations cost, and the soft cost

of professional fees, finance costs, and required review/

approval fees for authorities are all part of the budget.

Jacobe: Establishing a realistic budget the church body

will support is most important. Equally important is a

constant quality and budget analysis through all phases

of the design and delivery process.

Nothing is worse than designing a building the church

can’t afford and the disappointment of redesign or

abandoning the building program altogether.

What are the common mistakes

churches tend to make?

Jacobe: Far too often, churches make the assumption

that because the church is a building, any contractor

can build it. While this may be true, there is a learning

curve associated with church building, and it com-

monly requires expertise in numerous areas, such as

priority and phasing schedules, high-end technology,

not-for-profit financing, and approved volunteer

groups. As a result, we recommend people seriously

look at what firms with church building experience

have to offer.

Mabry: Not having the church body backing the pro-

gram can cause problems. When selecting your building

committee, try to assemble a diverse group of individu-

als who are well versed in the needs of the congrega-

tion. This may mean tapping into the expertise of many

different members who otherwise may not get involved.

Having a dynamic team in place can mean all the differ-

ence in turning out a quality product. Do the research

and establish the backing of your building program with

the congregation and, above all, communicate. CDC


ew BeginningsCreative approaches enable congregation tocomplete facility within budget By Nicole Achs Freeling

Using their unique team approach, Jacobe

Brothers Construction, Ltd., and Ron Mabry

Architects, both located in Tyler, Texas, were

able to resurrect a stalled building project and create a

new home for the 100-year-old First United Methodist

Church (FUMC) in Jacksonville, Texas — with a little

help from the hand of fate.

The members of FUMC, a growing congregation with

longtime roots in the area, had raised funds, hired an

architect, and spent about a year going through the

design process to build a new facility to house their

expanding faith community. But when a construction

contractor was brought on board, the church was told the

project would run $2 million more than anticipated —

almost 40 percent more than the church had budgeted.

Without the funds to pay for the projected cost, the

church put the project on indefinite hold. Then one day,

the chairman of the building committee drove through

Palestine, Texas, and saw a building project for the

Evangelistic Temple on which Jacobe Brothers was

working. He liked the project and placed a call to Bryan

Jacobe, Jacobe Brothers Vice President.“We agreed that

if we could come up with a design that met their needs

and was within their budget, they would proceed with

us,” says Jacobe.“So we came in with a fresh approach.

We gave the church an option that had not been pre-

sented to them before.”

Jacobe Brothers and Ron Mabry Architects produced a

design that not only fit within the church’s $5.3-million

budget but also included some features the original plan

did not, such as expanded seating in the sanctuary and

a striking, two-story atrium to serve as the hub of the

building and a gathering place for the congregation.

Collaboration Is Key

How the team was able to develop a project that met all

the needs of the original plan but cost $2 million less

was, according to Jacobe, a product of the way the two

firms work together from the beginning. Ron Mabry,

Principal and Owner of Ron Mabry Architects, explains.

“We design the project, and the contractor is right

behind us looking over our shoulders, ensuring costs


Jacobe Brothers and Ron Mabry Architects produced a design that not only fit within the church’s budget but also addedfeatures such as expanded seating in the sanctuary and a two-story atrium.

N

stay in line. We work everything together: budget, func-

tion, and site conditions.”

Creating a building of the capacity the church wanted

within its tight budget was indeed a challenge, says

Jacobe. But, he notes, “We make our living keeping a

tight grip on costs.”Materials and labor costs can fluctu-

ate greatly, with tremendous impact on a project’s bot-

tom line. “Our vast experience in church construction

provides us an exceptional resource for providing cost

controls in the early conceptual design phase and

throughout the entire design process,” he explains. “By

the time construction documents are finished, we know

we have a design that not only meets the needs of the

client architecturally but meets the budget require-

ments, as well.”

Cost-Effective Changes

One major change the team made was a more efficient

floor plan that reduced the building’s footprint. The

original design called for approximately one-half mile of

exterior wall, a significant factor in the project’s expense.

Mabry’s design consisted of a central core rather than

linear construction. At the center of the building is a

two-story atrium that includes fireplaces, comfortable

chairs and sofas, and space for a coffee shop. The atrium

is a place the congregation can gather before and after

services, even in bad weather.

Radiating from the atrium are wings dedicated to the

different functions the church serves. There is a chil-

dren’s wing housing a day school, Sunday school, and

youth programs; an administrative wing; the sanctuary

and worship space; and administrative offices.

Even with this change, keeping the building within

budget required rigorous value engineering. Jacobe and

Mabry opted for a combination of light gauge metal

framing and pre-engineered metal for the building’s

structure. The team chose exterior finishes that were both

cost-effective and reflective of the design, with a combi-

nation of masonry and synthetic stucco, known in the

industry as EIFS (exterior insulation finishing system).

Combining Past and Present

Another challenge the design team faced was that the

elderly members of the congregation, who had been

with this church all their lives, were reluctant to move to

a new location. The church’s century-old building

included beautiful architec-

tural features that many were

loath to lose.

“We wanted to design the

new building in a way that

said, ‘You are not really

leaving your old church;

yo u ’re b r i n g i n g i t w i t h

you,’”says Mabry.

The team chose to incorpo-

rate exquisite stained glass

windows that had been in the

original sanctuary and move

them to the new building.

Construction crews removed

the windows, restored them,

added protective glass on the

outside, and reinstalled them

in the new sanctuary. This

process, according to Jacobe,

was no easy task.

“These were 25-foot tall, 100-year-old windows,” he

says.“They were made by hand, so they’re not uniform

in size. It required very intricate measuring and sizing to

create new frames and openings each one would fit

into.”Because the church was planning to sell the orig-

inal structure, the team also had to re-enclose the old

windows to the same exacting measurements.

Mabry’s design reflects a state-of-the-art building with

contemporary flair but also pays homage to the tradi-

tional by incorporating moldings, arches, vaults, and

exposed beams that are reflective of the original site.

A Dream Revitalized

“Anytime a building project gets stalled, it’s hard to get

the momentum and excitement back into it,” says

Mabry. But once FUMC church members realized what

Jacobe and Mabry could do, enthusiasm quickly built for

the project. The new facility will be completed and occu-

pied in November 2006, and church directors have said

they are thrilled with the new design.

The building committee leader says he is happy he hap-

pened upon the Jacobe construction site that day. “It

was a nice coincidence,”Jacobe says.“But then, nothing

is ever really coincidence.”CDC


The skeleton of the future home of First United Methodist Churchin Jacksonville, Texas

Sharingthe Vision

Sharingthe Vision

How to gaincongregational support for your buildingprogram By Kimberly McCullough

For a church congregation, entering into a building

program can create considerable anxiety among

the membership regarding the church’s future

financial stability and the decision-making process of

the proposed project.

Many congregations begin their plans for a new facility

with preconceived ideas of how they want it to look.

This idealized version of the project escalates, and plans

are developed prematurely before enough analysis has

been put into determining the actual needs of the mem-

bership and the ability of the church to finance its

“dream”church facility.

When the financial reality sinks in and the congregants

realize their “dream” project is out of reach for their

congregation, disappointment and frustration can

become one of the biggest challenges to the future suc-

cess of the building campaign and, ultimately, any hope

of building the facility.

To avoid finding your congregation’s plans for a new

church facility in this difficult position, it is important to

realize that the key ingredient to any successful building

program is not need, cost, or design. It is congregational

support. Without it, your building program is doomed to

fail. In a worst-case scenario, a building program with-

out congregational support can potentially lead to the

downfall of a church.

On the other hand, when a congregation’s building pro-

gram has the full and enthusiastic support of its mem-

bers, success is likely, regardless of finances, design, or

political issues.

Key Parameters

To get your building program headed in the right direc-

tion, as a church leader, you must recognize that the pri-

mary building blocks of congregational support include

communication (in terms of disclosure), assurances,

accurate information, confidence, and, above all, partic-

ipation from the membership.

Church architect Ron Mabry, Principal and Owner

of Ron Mabry Architects, Tyler, Texas, has a unique

perspective on how to get this process off to

a good start. “In my professional experience over the

last 30 years, particularly the last 15 years of spe-

cializing in the design of religious facilities, the

same question is still in vogue: How do we gain

the support of the congregation in a new building

campaign? In my opinion,” he says, “this is the

wrong question.”

Mabry explains,“The question that should be asked is:

What is the best way to communicate with the congre-

gation, offer assurances, and gain confidence? Once

these ingredients are in place within the church


membership, support is evident and you have a solid

foundation for a building program.”

Communicate at Every Step

Now for the “ingredients.” Mabry believes communica-

tion is vital, not only in organizing and defining the

building program but also through the entire project

delivery process — all the way through to completion of

the facility. The first step in the process of developing

your building campaign is to ensure that the people who

are going to use your facility and pay for it feel they have

a stake in how the building is developed. These “stake-

holders” should not only be informed of the thought

processes of the building committee and the profession-

als on your team, but they should also be informers.

Stakeholders should be invited to participate early in

the development of the facility’s plan to gain their input

and perspective on how they see the congregation’s

needs, the scope of the project, and the expected

budget. During this process of collecting facts, involve-

ment through subcommittees and general congrega-

tional question-and-answer sessions will assure the

members of your congregation that the building pro-

gram is for everyone and that everyone’s input is impor-

tant to the success of the program.

After gaining congregational input, it is important to

acknowledge all input that has been given. Some may

be vital to defining the needs and scope of your proj-

ect, while some may be less influential or not as rele-

vant; however, it is important that those who have

made the effort to express their views be acknowl-

edged for their contributions.

Seek Input from Experts

This give-and-take is not the only issue in assuring the

congregation that the building program is well planned

and carefully thought out. Professional input from your

architect and builder also plays an important part in the

“assurance”formula. Based on building committee, sub-

committee, and congregational data gathered, the pro-

fessionals can then develop a formal building program

identifying approximate building size, circulation, and

space-relationship diagrams (bubble diagrams), along

with site requirements, quality, and conceptual budget.

All this information can be provided before any design

documents are produced.

Bryan Jacobe of Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.,

Tyler, Texas, explains the benefit of this approach. “A

design-construction team with extensive religious facil-

ity design experience has a wealth of knowledge to draw

from, providing the client an accurate program outline

rather than an ‘educated guess.’”

Your design-construction professionals will also be able

to identify priorities by phase and budget requirements,

not only for present needs but also for projected

future needs.

Share the (Realistic) Vision

The gathering and interfacing of congregational input

with your design-build professional’s experience will

produce a calculated, realistic project that assures your

congregation that the church’s needs have been consid-

ered. These requirements, along with project quality and

realistic financial parameters, will be the cornerstones of

your building program.

Your church’s building committee should focus on com-

municating the direction of the building program with

the church body, collecting congregational input, and

assembling a strategic, documented, and realistic build-

ing program. By identifying and sharing your church’s

present and future needs, the building’s site require-

ments, and budgetary considerations before starting

definitive design concept drawings, you end up with a

congregation that will be more likely to feel like a par-

ticipant in the process, providing its members with con-

fidence that the building program is inclusive,

well-thought-out, and achievable.

Your congregation of stakeholders will not only be sup-

portive and excited about your building program, but

they will also share your vision for the future, including

the possibility of expanded ministries and congrega-

tional growth. CDC


The first step in the process of

developing your building campaign

is to ensure that the people who are

going to use your facility and pay for

it feel they have a stake in how the

building is developed.


Directory

Code Consultants

East Texas Code Consultants

1616 Judson Rd., Ste. 5

Longview, TX 75601

(903) 236-0326 • (903) 753-8838 Fax

Concrete Contractors

Alpha Concrete Contractors, Inc.

P.O. Box 5028

Longview, TX 75608

(903) 297-2857 • (903) 295-2008 Fax

Drywall & Metal Framing

Morris Drywall

Systems, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . see back cover

Ecclesiastical Equipment

Fiberglass

Specialties, Inc. . . . . . . see inside back cover

Electrical Contractors

Trico

Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . see inside back cover

Engineering & Testing Services

Apex

Geoscience Inc. . . . . . see inside front cover

ETTL Engineers & Consultants

1717 E. Erwin

Tyler, TX 75702

(903) 595-4421 • (903) 595-6113 Fax

Fire Protection

Mutual Sprinklers, Inc. . . . . . . . see back cover

Flooring

Larry’s

Interiors, Inc. . . . . . . . see inside front cover

HVAC

East Texas

Refrigeration, Inc. . . . . . see inside front cover

MEP Design

Eastex Engineering

Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see page 10

The Alex

Group, LLC . . . . . . . . . see inside back cover

Paving & Sitework

L & L Asphalt Corp.

3457 Shiloh Rd.

Tyler, TX 75707

(903) 561-2887 • (903) 561-6117 Fax

Russell Excavating . . . . . see inside back cover

Plumbing &

Fire Sprinkler Contractors

Rudd Contracting

Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . see inside back cover

Rebar Fabricators

Lone Star Builders Supply Rebar Fabricators

P.O. Box 1549

Jacksonville, TX 75766

(903) 586-9062 • (903) 586-7326 Fax

Roof & Floor Trusses

Panel Truss

Texas, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see inside front cover

Sound, Video & Lighting

Victory Sound Communications,

Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see inside front cover

Steel Erectors

Cannon Steel Co., Inc.

P.O. Box 4635

Tyler, TX 75712

(903) 593-9913 • (903) 592-9744

Steel Fabrication

Tyler Steel Company

P.O. Box 89

Tyler, TX 75710

(903) 595-4551 • (903) 595-4554 Fax

Steel Structures

United Structures

of America, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . see back cover

Storefronts & Glass

Independent Glass & Mirror Co.

1322 W. Erwin St.

Tyler, TX 75702

(903) 597-8975 • (903) 593-9971 Fax

Structural Engineers

Holland

Engineering . . . . . . . . see inside front cover

Kassaw &

Dietz, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . see inside back cover

Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd., and Ron Mabry Architects

would like to thank the following advertisers who helped

make this publication possible.

Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.700 S. Southeast Loop 323Tyler, TX 75702

vice president, constructionsubs.jacobebros.com/images/mag/vol2.pdfa publication from jacobe...

Documents